Ivory Coast fans blame police for deadly stampede

The organizer of the next World Cup, meanwhile, pledged Monday
there will be no stadium stampedes during Africa's first World Cup
in 2010 or during the 2009 Confederations Cup, both being held in
South Africa.

Danny Jordaan told reporters in Johannesburg that many African
fans buy their tickets only when they reach the stadium, and delays
often create impatient crowds outside.

"It triggers a stampede that leads to disaster," Jordaan said.
"Those things will not occur in the Confederations Cup or the World
Cup. It is impossible."

Jordaan said World Cup and Confederations Cup tickets will have
to be purchased well in advance and those without tickets will be
stopped far away from the stadiums.

He said stadium gates will open early, three hours before
kickoff, and public transportation to stadiums will be improved -
all to reduce anxious crowds.

Both he and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter offered their
condolences to the families.

If tear gas was to blame in Abidjan, it would be the fourth time
since 2001 that police firing tear gas have set off deadly stadium
stampedes in Africa.

In 2000, 13 fans died at a match in Zimbabwe after police fired
tear gas into the crowd. A year later, at least 123 people died in
Accra, Ghana, after security forces fired tear gas and seven other
fans were crushed to death in a stampede in Lubumbashi, Congo,
after police fired tear gas.